Writing this as I am reminded that I named this
blog “Inner Metamorphosis” as a tribute to Nietzsche’s concept of “three
metamorphoses”.
According to Nietzsche there are three stages of
progress for man to transform into overman. I feel this holds true for progress
in any discipline and of life itself (we shall not probe Nietzsche’s specific
context here).
Three Metamorphoses
Every student of an art/ discipline has to go
through these stages: Camel, Lion & Child.
Initially, one is a beast of burden (camel) – one
must intake as much information as
possible from as many sources available. At this stage, one must not desire
freedom – they should relentlessly pursue their ambition, get rid of their ego,
work under capable men to get experience and learn the “craft” and do whatever
it takes to achieve greater finesse in their chosen field.
Next, its time you express your “art” (vision,
philosophy, ideas) boldly like a lion, through
the craft that you have mastered in the earlier stage. The information you’ve
gathered previously is thoroughly digested thus energizing your thought which
is articulated to form a coherent body of knowledge.
At this stage, confidence in one’s capacity is born and one fearlessly conveys
and defends his positions.
After living those convictions for a while, one may
begin to question their cherished beliefs and revaluate their values. Thus a child is
born from the ashes of lion’s self-confidence, who doesn’t accept anything as a
given and whose curiosity doesn’t prevent it from mocking sacred cows. He
becomes free from all prejudice and bias and bereft of any ideological baggage
it starts the journey afresh. It goes for an adventure into uncharted
territories and ventures into mindscape seldom ventured before.
So in which stage of progress are you in your
present pursuit?
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